Two blazes still not contained

SALMON, Idaho – Three Hot Shot crews worked over the weekend to establish an anchor point and dig a fire line along the south side of the Bear Springs fire, burning in the Salmon-Challis National Forest about 11 miles northwest of North Fork, Idaho.

The anchor point would secure safety and prevent the fire from getting out of control at its rear while crews are working along the sides of the fire.

The blaze has burned about 350 acres and was not contained Sunday, said Salmon-Challis spokeswoman Gail Baer.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Baer said no lightning hit the area Friday, when the fire first was reported. By the time crews arrived Friday night, the flames had consumed 100 acres, she said.

Sunday, a Type 2 incident command team with 230 firefighters, three helicopters and two engines took over battling the blaze.

A Type 2 team is the second-most complex of four teams used to battle wildfires. There are no predetermined fire sizes dictating what level team is called in.

“If the fire keeps growing and threatens subdivisions or threatens the highway, it might be time to transition to a Type 1 response team,” Baer said. “But that’s the ‘what if.’ “

Meanwhile, a Type 2 team is trying to contain the North Star Butte fire about 13 miles northwest of New Meadows, Idaho, in the Payette National Forest. It has grown to 600 acres, officials said.

Eleven crews were working on the fire Saturday, using air tankers dropping retardant and helicopters dropping buckets of water to try to contain the fire fueled by subalpine fir trees.

Several roads and trails have been closed for safety.